Readers, organisers and journalists visit your site for different reasons, but they look for the same few things. Here they are, with what to check for each.
Your books
Every book needs its own page, because that is where a reader decides.
- The cover, the description and a link to buy.
- The trailer or a short extract.
- The series order, if there is one.
Your story
Your biography is read more often than you think, and most often by organisers and the press.
- A short version and a long version of your biography.
- A photo they can use.
- What you write about, in one sentence.
Your talks and interviews
If you speak, show it.
- The topics you speak on.
- A way to book you.
- Links to interviews and podcasts.
Contact and next step
Every visitor should be able to do one thing.
- A contact page that works on a phone.
- A sign-up for your list, if you have one.
- Links to your social profiles.
Speed and clarity
Most visitors arrive on a phone.
Do
- Test every page on a phone.
- Keep images small enough to load quickly.
- Use plain headings that say what is below.
Avoid
- Autoplaying sound.
- A menu with a dozen items.
- Text over a busy image.